In the COAS we have a workable, though sometimes cumbersome, procedure:
- Departments have classrooms that they "own."
- Some (mostly special-purpose spaces like labs) are for their exclusive use.
- Many may be used by others if the department doesn't need them.
- Each department schedules its rooms. After a specified date, shareable rooms that aren't booked are opened up to other departments, first-come-first-serve.
- Certain rooms, like lecture halls, are not owned by a department. They are open to all, first-come-first-serve.
- A designated staff member in the dean's office works with departments to resolve conflicts.
- Should a staffer in 1 of the colleges assume the task?
- If so, what should we do to forestall actual or perceived bias in favor of that college?
Depends. Will the three (or four) new colleges share the rooms as they're shared now (If so, it would make more sense to have one person in charge of conflicts.) or will the colleges split up the rooms (If this is the case, each college would need its own person.)?
ReplyDeleteGood point. In the long run - maybe after the permanent deans are in place - the new colleges will have to decide what they want to do. For the shorter run, we'll recommend that room assignments stay the same.
ReplyDeleteThe assigment of classrooms I find to be highly problematic and would favor a more, rather than less, centralized system. It does not at all seem appropriate to me that certain programs control space--the space belongs to us all and it should not be such a burden to the staff in departments to try to arrange things amongst themselves. On more than one occasion, a staff member in my department has had to come to me hat in hand and ask me to change my teaching schedule because rooms are not available. This is a terrible thing to do to a staff person and is not pleasant for faculty to arrange teaching schedules solely around space availability. If room assignments were more centrally controlled, perhaps this would allow all programs the same priority for rooms?
ReplyDelete"It does not at all seem appropriate to me that certain programs control space"
ReplyDeleteNot to pick nits, but there are circumstances where it is appropriate. Specifically, lab and classroom spaces that are program-dependent. We have them in CS and I'd bet others (e.g., Chemistry, Biology) do as well. Any plan to re-allocate space needs to take that into account.
That said, centralized scheduling is probably appropriate for traditional classroom spaces.
Of course, if a room is full of computer equipment or lab equipment, it cannot be expected to be so flexible, but there are other spaces that are controlled by departments and made inaccessible (Kathy Cashen Hall for one) that ought not be. Lots of programs could use Cashen for public lectures, etc. but are not allowed to because it is controlled by one department. Cashen is just an example, there are other such spaces on campus. Seems to me these spaces belong to all, not to one specific program. Centralized scheduling of these spaces would make a lot of sense.
ReplyDelete